Latest news with #TfL
Telegraph
19 hours ago
- Business
- Telegraph
More than 2,000 TfL staff earned over £100k last year
More than 2,000 members of staff at Transport for London (TfL) earned over £100,000 last year, it has emerged. The number of employees on six-figure salaries in 2024-25 surged by 900 since last year, according to the network's annual accounts. Andy Lord, the TfL commissioner, received £639,164 in total remuneration, including performance-related pay and a retention bonus. This is an increase of almost £115,000 compared to the previous year, with his bonus reaching £187,902. The network, which is overseen by Sir Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor, defended Mr Lord's salary by saying that an equivalent role in the private sector would pay significantly more. A spokesman said that it was 'essential that we continue to attract and retain staff across all disciplines'. More than 100 managers on the Tube saw their salaries hit six figures due to two pay rises, one of which was backdated from the previous year. TfL employs more than 28,000 staff and has an annual budget of around £9 billion. It made an operating surplus of £166 million in 2024-25. But the network missed its own targets for passenger numbers and income from fares. It attracted fewer customers on buses and the Docklands Light Railway than the previous year, and the number of Tube passengers grew more slowly than hoped. The service has recently come under fire for its lack of action over fare evasion after Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, confronted fare dodgers at Stratford station. Keith Prince, transport spokesman for the City Hall Conservatives in London, told The Standard: 'To see the number of TfL staff earning six figures balloon – at a time when Tube trains are covered in graffiti and the police face devastating cuts – smacks of tone deafness from Khan's TfL.' Gareth Bacon, the shadow transport secretary, said: 'If the mayor stays on these tracks, passengers will be left paying even more for less – stuck on overcrowded, graffitied platforms, as Transport for London's £13 billion debt continues to spiral. 'Sadiq Khan's TfL is a six-figure gravy train hurtling off the rails with bonuses for the bosses and delays for the rest of us.' Earlier this month, a group of Londoners filmed themselves removing graffiti from inside Tube trains as they were fed up of the vandalism being ignored. The group, founded Joe Reeve, 28, said they were 'doing what Sadiq Khan can't' by cleaning up Bakerloo Line carriages. It comes as London Underground drivers – who are already comfortably inside the top 10 per cent of all salaried employees in Britain – are threatening to go on strike if bosses refuse to pay them £76,000 a year. The Telegraph understands that TfL has offered Tube drivers a 2.8 per cent pay increase. But a union newsletter seen by The Telegraph said: 'We demand a pay rise that protects us from the real cost of living. As always, RMT bases our pay negotiations on the retail price index (RPI).' A spokesman for TfL said: 'TfL is a complex £9bn billion-a-year turnover organisation that is central to the success of London and the UK – getting millions of Londoners and visitors to where they need to go each day, and delivering complex engineering projects across the city to improve transport for everyone. 'We are investing billions in improving the transport network and now, for the second year in a row, have achieved an operating surplus for operations. 'This means that our revenues cover the costs of running the existing transport network, with any surplus directly invested back into the transport network.' They added: 'In a highly competitive market, in which comparator companies pay their top executives significantly more than TfL, it is essential that we continue to attract and retain staff across all disciplines of the organisation, which includes ensuring that pay increases are achieved across all levels of colleagues.'
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Sadiq Khan isn't clearing up London Underground graffiti because it will help him get more money from central Government, Tories say
Sir Sadiq Khan is avoiding cleaning up graffiti on the London Underground as it will help him get more money from central Government, TfL insiders have alleged. Sources at Transport for London (TfL), have claimed that the graffiti-covered carriages on London's Bakerloo line are assisting the London Mayor with his goal of receiving a multi-million pound Government handout for new trains. Speaking of Sir Sadiq's alleged deliberate avoidance of the vandalism, an insider is said to have told The Daily Telegraph: 'Anything that helps make the case for new trains is going to be helpful. 'We would rather the graffiti wasn't happening, obviously. But if this is going to help, we want to replace them and need we need money from the Government to do it'. It comes after shocking video footage posted online showed fed-up commuters taking matters in their own hands and cleaning up the graffiti. Joe Reeve, 28, founder of policy group Looking for Growth, led the clean up effort, insisted he was 'doing what Sadiq Khant' after TfL reported a 'significant increase' in the number of graffiti incidents on its trains. Now, it has been alleged that Sir Sadiq is avoiding the removal of the vandalism in a bid to boost his political goals. The London Mayor is currently lobbying the Government to fund a replacement of the Bakerloo Line's 1970s rolling stock with new trains. Sir Sadiq, chair of TfL, has also called for an extension of the line to Lewisham, south-east London. However, concerns have been raised about a lack of funds for the historic line - with its extension and reconstruction previously estimated at a cost of between £5million and £8million. Speaking of the London Mayor's (pictured) alleged deliberate avoidance of the vandalism, an insider is said to have told The Daily Telegraph: 'Anything that helps make the case for new trains is going to be helpful' Keith Prince, transport spokesperson for the City Hall Conservatives, described the assertion that the graffiti has not yet been removed due to a lack of Government funding as 'nonsense'. Calling on Sir Sadiq to solve the growing issue, he told The Daily Telegraph: 'Pull the other one, Sadiq, and actually use your powers as TFL chair to solve this blight'. Susan Hall, leader of the City Hall Conservative Group, previously told MailOnline that Mr Reeve and his team of 'activists' had 'put Khan and TfL to shame by showing how easy it is to clean up our Tube'. She added: 'It's disappointing that the Mayor constantly has to be humiliated into acting, but we look forward to legions of TfL staff being put to good use wiping down the remaining graffiti which has adorned Tube carriages for disgracefully too long.' Meanwhile, Mr Reeve, who lives in Lambeth, South London, described feeling 'pretty frustrated' with Sir Sadiq given the extent of graffiti seen across the line. Speaking to the The Standard, he added that three train drivers have thanked the group for their efforts, with one telling them: 'At least someone's doing something'. He said: 'I take the Bakerloo line every morning and I see someone push past the barrier. 'Then when I get down to the Tube, every single carriage is full of graffiti. It feels like no one is doing anything to make the city better. I'm pretty patriotic. 'I love London, and I think it should be the best city in the world. I had the option to move to the US for work, but I want to stay in the UK and see it get better.' The viral footage of the activists came after Neil O'Brien, Conservative MP for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston, tweeted last month: 'Mad what Khan has allowed to happen to the Bakerloo Line — looks like 70s New York.' While trains were previously taken out of daily service by TfL to remove graffiti, they are now cleaned overnight when the network is not running. TfL claims that it works to remove graffiti as quickly as possible - but where it cannot be removed easily, it is covered if possible and cleaned during engineering hours. The aim is to keep trains out on the network and minimise passenger delays. In 2021, Sir Sadiq released a set of throwback images showing the sorry state of the tube network in previous decades, warning that without urgent Government investment the transport network could see significant cuts. In 2021, Sir Sadiq released a set of throwback images showing the sorry state of the tube network in previous decades (pictured), warning that without urgent Government investment the transport network could see significant cuts Calling on the UK Government to invest in London's public transport, the London Mayor added: 'Unless the Government provides the long-term funding needed to maintain our public transport network, there will be no choice but to make significant cuts to services just as demand is growing again. 'This would mean fewer, less frequent and more run-down bus and tube services for Londoners, making it more difficult to travel around the city'. A TFL spokesperson said that it was 'completely untrue to suggest that any graffiti is left for longer than necessary for any reason'. Adding that the body are 'removing graffiti from the Tube network as fast as possible', they said: 'We have deployed an accelerated cleaning programme in response to the specific increase in graffiti on the Central and Bakerloo lines.
Time Out
a day ago
- Time Out
TfL just got one step closer to regulating loud and overpriced pedicabs
Love them or hate them, it's hard to miss the furry hot pink, neon flashing, eighties-pop blasting vehicles that roam around central London. Pedicabs are the only unregulated mode of transport in the city and, as a result, have been getting away with charging extortionate fares and playing music at disruptive volumes. But things could soon change. TfL began its mission to start regulating the rickshaws back in November 2023. In March last year, the Pedicab (London) Bill was passed, giving TfL the power to begin its clampdown. Now, it has said that it's going forward with its plan to crack down on pedicabs in the city, following a consultation that showed overwhelming public support. After collecting more than 7,600 responses, the consultation found that 75 percent of people feel unsafe when using a pedicab in London, 95 percent agree that drivers should be required to pass UK criminal background checks, 96 percent agree that their music should be controlled and 85 percent said fares were too expensive. TfL's proposed restrictions included drivers needing appropriate insurance, having to demonstrate that they understand their role and responsibilities, requiring a one-year pedicab driver's license, needing to meet a set of safety standards (such as criminal background checks) and regular vehicle inspections. Licensing requirements could also involve driver conduct, potentially restricting them playing loud music. Those proposals will now be reviewed with the results of consultation in mind and will go through another consultation with people within the pedicab industry later in the year. Will Norman, London's walking and cycling commissioner, said: 'Pedicabs should be a fun and sustainable way to explore what our city has to offer, but without regulation some drivers are behaving unsafely or anti-socially and charging extortionate prices. 'The Mayor and I have always been clear that regulation is needed to ensure pedicabs can operate safely in London, and this report shows that Londoners agree. We're looking forward to pressing on with next steps and further consultation, with a view to introducing regulation next year, as we build a fairer and safer London for everyone.' The full consultation report can be found here. If everything goes TfL's way, regulations could come into force next year. London's pedicabs on Time Out The fur-covered, music-blasting pedicabs and rickshaws have been a chaotic trait of central London's streets for years. Time Out covered the first attempts to curb them back in 2022, and took a ride in one ourselves, which you can read all about here.
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Politics
- Leader Live
TfL set to regulate pedicabs in London for the first time amid safety concerns
The consultation, carried out by Transport for London (TfL) found that out of nearly 7,700 respondents, 75% currently felt unsafe while using a pedicab in the capital. The rickshaws, common sights in London's main tourist destinations, are not currently regulated. Nearly all (97%) of participants backed mandatory insurance for pedicab operators, 95% support the introduction of criminal background checks for drivers, and 85% believe that pedicab fares are too expensive. Draft policy proposals include a TfL licensing system, along the same lines as that currently in place for London taxi drivers, with requirements including a minimum age of 18, a UK or EEA-valid drivers' licence, and English language skills. TfL are also considering the introduction of insurance requirements, alongside safety equipment mandates. The proposals could come into force from 2026 – but will become more detailed over the coming months, and are subject to a second consultation at the end of the year. The use of music by pedicab drivers sparked particular frustration among the survey's respondents – including over 2,400 comments, double the number relating to any other topic. 96% of participants were in favour of volume limitations on music and other audio from pedicabs, and 78% believe these controls should be in place 'all the time'. Helen Chapman, TfL's director of Licensing & Regulation, said: 'Pedicabs can provide a unique and green way to see the capital. 'However, they have an impact on the safety of the road network and are currently unregulated. 'We look forward to working with the pedicab industry to ensure it is run fairly and safely and continues to be a sustainable mode of transport.' The move comes in the wake of parliamentary calls for regulation last year – which culminated in the Pedicabs (London) Act, granting TfL the statutory powers necessary to go through with the licensing system. The transport authority proposes to take the lead on enforcement of any new regulations themselves, with all expenses recouped through the fees for pedicab licences. In a campaign response to the survey, the London Pedicab Welfare Association (LPWA) said: 'While the intention behind this requirement is to ensure the safety of passengers and regulate the industry, it has created challenges for pedicab drivers who do not possess a driving licence.' The LPWA instead proposed alternatives, including the introduction of a theory test for drivers to obtain their licence. Ros Morgan, chief executive at the Heart of London Business Alliance, welcomed the proposals, saying: 'For far too long, members of the public have been at the mercy of rogue operators who do nothing to enhance the reputation of the West End. 'Implementation of the scheme could not come soon enough.'
ITV News
2 days ago
- ITV News
Mother who lost arm and leg in 'devastating' Tube accident takes TfL to court
Sarah de Lagarde, who lost an arm and leg after falling on the train tracks and being hit by a tube, talks ITV News Reporter Jay Akbar as she takes TfL to court A mother, who lost an arm and leg after falling on the train tracks and being hit by a tube, says she is "terrified" every time her daughters get the Underground, as she takes Transport for London to court. In September 2022, Sarah de Lagarde, 47, slipped on a platform at High Barnet station, in north London, and fell down the gap between the train and the platform. After being hit by two separate trains, she was taken to hospital and had to have an arm and a leg amputated, and now uses two prosthetic limbs. She tells ITV News London it had a "devastating impact" on her life, with her husband and children becoming her carers. While the payment claim is large, she says she would "trade anything to get her limbs back". Mrs De Lagarde is bringing a legal claim against London Underground Ltd (LUL), which is part of Transport for London (TfL). The first hearing in the case was held at the Royal Courts of Justice on Wednesday for breach of duty. Speaking to ITV News London, she said she was bringing about the action as TfL is not doing enough to make the underground safe. She said: "I really think that this is a bigger issue than just my case. This is affecting millions of commuters. "I have two daughters who are of age to use public transport. I am absolutely terrified every time they go because I know the risks they're taking and I know that safety is a real issue. " At the preliminary hearing, Judge Roger Eastman said an eight-week trial would likely take place at the beginning of 2027, with a further hearing due to take place in September this year. He also said: 'I appreciate this is a very high value claim, potentially, and very serious claim.'James MacDonald, representing Mrs De Lagarde, told the court the case was 'not an ordinary personal injury case'. In written submissions, he said the issues the trial judge will have to decide include whether LUL was in breach by not having a system in place to ensure that the Platform Train Interface (PTI) is monitored as passengers are getting off a train at a terminus station. Another issue is whether LUL 'was in breach by virtue of its train operators not being trained to look for passengers on the tracks when entering a station'. Prashant Popat KC, for LUL, said: 'We recognise that this is a tragic case, and the claimant sustained some horrific injuries.' In written submissions, he added: 'The defendant denies these allegations. 'It also pleads contributory negligence. 'The parties are agreed that the case should proceed first towards a preliminary issue trial on liability. This would encompass breach of duty, causation and the issue of contributory negligence.' A TfL spokesperson said: 'We are responding to a legal claim brought by Sarah de Lagarde. It is not appropriate to discuss details of our defence while this case is ongoing. 'Our thoughts continue to be with Sarah and her family following this terrible incident, and we will continue to make every possible effort to learn from any incident on the Tube network. Safety is our top priority and we will always place it at the forefront of our thinking.'
